Lamp construction



mi. En. ELQY. JH..

LAMP GONSTRUCTIGN Filed Sept.

Mgg gmmm K13@ FE Patented Aug. 3l, 1926.,

entran sri/aras iv- TENT QFHQE.

WILLIAM B. BARRY, JR., OF EAST ORANGE, AND EDVVARD Gf. MYERS, OF MON'ICLAIR, NEW JERSEY.

LAMP CONSTRUCTION.

Application led September 2, 1925. Serial No. 54,314.

This invention relates to improvements in lamp constructions.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved type of lamp construction, preferably adapted 'for use as a signal or marker lamp for railway use, embodying' means for detachably and electrically connecting the lamp globe of the improved marker lamp.

r further object of this invention is the provision of an improved marker lamp, including a novel type of one piece casing so constructed as to prevent snow, ice7 and other foreign deposits thereon.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a very compact and light weight .marker lamp for trains, embodying a novel detachable connection for the lamp unit thereof.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a marker lamp adapted for such use as is set forth in our copending application Serial No. 2,961, filed January 16, 1925, and of which copending application the present application is in part a division.

further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course ofthe following detailed description.

fn the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate correspending parts throughout the several views.

Figure 'l is a vertical cross sectional view taken longitudinally of the improved lamp, showing improved features of the same, particularly showing the lamp unit supporting means in side elevation.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken through the base portion of the lamp, showing novel features thereof.

. Figures 3 and t are transverse sectional views taken substantially on their respective lines in Figure 1 of the drawing.

ln the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration, is shown only a preferred embodiment of the improved lamp construction, the letter A may generally designate the improved marker lamp which may include one piece casing 25, lenses 2G sup .spect to the top wall 30.

ported thereby; supporting and mounting means 27 of the character set forth in our copending application above referred to; and a detachable lamp unit supporting means 28.

The casing 25 of the improved electrically operated marker lamp A is formed of either pressed or cast aluminum, although other metal or materials may be used. Aluminum is chiefly desirable `because of its lightness in weight and the ability to readily cast the casing. The casing includes a top wall 30, and the four side walls 31, 32, 33 and 34, which are arranged in right angled relation with respect to each other and with re- All of the top and side walls are formed integral, and all sharp corners at the juncture of said walls are eliminated, and in lieu of sharp corners convex corners V36 struck fromrelatively large radii are provided, so that the casing provides but few sharp obstructions for the collection of snow, sleet, dirt, or other foreign media. Each of the side walls 3l to 34 inclusive is provided with a substantially centrally arranged circular opening 37, for detachably receiving therein the standard tested concavo-convex lens 26, with the conver surface of the lens projecting eXteriorly of the opening and outer side surface of its respective wall of the casing 25. Each of these lenses 26 is provided with a flange portion 38 overlying the interior surface of its respective wall about the opening 37, and in connection with each lens 26 a clamping ring 40 is provided, adapted to overlie this flange 38 of each lens; the ring 40 being provided with a plurality of laterally eX- tending attaching ears 4l, being apertured, for receiving countersunk headed screws or bolts i2 therethrough, by means of which each ring i0 may be clamped to its adjacent casing wall, for retaining its respective lens 26 in position. lf desired, flexible washers, of fiber, or the like, maybe provided between the rings 40 and the lens 26, and between the lens flange 38 and adjacent wall which it abuts. rlhe compartment provided in the lamp casing 25 isiopen downwardly through theV casing 25, as a means of attaching the lamp unit supporting means 28 in the compartment d5, and as will be subsequently described.

To facilitate carriage of the marker lamp, a bail 4.7 is pivotally supported by suitable attaching ears 4S secured at opposite sides 31 and 33 ofthe casing 25; said bail 47 normally extending upwardly of the casing top wall 30.

Referring to the construction 27 in so far as the same relates to the application of the same to a signal lamp, for the purposes of this invention it includes a circular collar or hollow cylindrical member 50 within'the lower open end of the casing 25, thesame being of sullicient diameter to contact the inner surfaces of the side walls `51 to 34e inelusive, and therein the said collar 50 is riveted, as by rivets 51 and 51n to each of said side walls, so that the lower portion ro'l the collar V50 extends below the lower edge 52 ofthe casing 25. .This collar 50 is provided with a passageway `d therethrough communicating with the. compartment- At its lower end 'the .casing 25 has secured exteriorly thereof lthe polygonal shaped band 56, which conforms to. the shape of the side walls of the casing 25,and is secured to he casing `by means of the yrivets 51 above n'ientioned, so that'the lower et ge 57 of said band 56 lies ilush'with the lower edge 52 of the casing 25. Secured to the lower outer surface of that portion ofthe collar which extends .below the casing edge 52 is an annular band 60, which may beconstructed of aluminum or like material, similar to the aluminum collar 50 and aluminum band 56; this vband 60 being secured to the outer surface of the said lower portion of the collar 50 by means of detachable bolts 61, so that the upper edge 62 of said :band 60 is spaced from'the'lmvver flush edges 52 and 57 above mentioned, to providethe annular groove 65between the vedges 52 and`62, which is adapted to rotatably receive the circular body portion 66 ofthe lamp supporing bracket 67.

rlfhe bracket 67 ispreferably constructed of wrought iron or analogous durable material, and the circular portion 06 is of just suflicient width that its upper and lower edges contact in 'sliding 'abutment against the flush edges 52 and'57 and the edge 52 of the band 60. 'y

AReferring'to the detachable lamp member supporting construction 28, the same 1ncludes an aluminum .base Srof a novel con' struction, which is adapted 'to detachably lit within the Vpassageway 54-01 the casing attaching collar V50. This base includes the circular or disc shaped body 87,@having an annularly depending 'attaching flange 88l which upwardl .from 'the ylower 'marginal edge 89 thereof 'is provided. with bayonet slots 90 of any approved formation and number. Three of these bayonet slots 90 are preferably provided, and each of said slots includes an entrance way 91, entering the flange 88 at right angles to the edge 89; a diagonal or inclined intermediate portion 92; and an upper notch portion 93 disposed at right angles to the loweredge 89 of said flange S8. A plurality of radially extending steel. pins 95, preferablythree in number, are detachably threaded in the collar 50, and project intor the passageway 5d as a means of supporting the base S5 incident to the reception of the projecting ends of said pin-s 95 in 'thebayonet slots 90. Thev pins 95 are preferably provided 120O apart, as are also the bayonet slots 90. 'Betweenadjacentbayonet slots the base 85 is preferably provided with vertical passageways eX.- tendi'ng upwardly entirely along the attache ing` flangeV 88 and through the edge yportion of the top wall or disc V87;'said passageways 100 beingprovided as a. means of elevating the base 85 thru the passageway 54 of the collar, 50 `past the ,projecting ends of the pins 95 until the base 85 is. elevated so that the said base may be turned slightly to per mit the entrance of the projectingends of thepi'ns 95 into the bayonet slots 90.

Up vardly upon the 'top wall or disc 87 of the base it is preferred to fn; a .porcelain socket 101 of anyapprovcd character, which detachably `receivestherein the metal plug end 102 of an incandescent bulb 105. Flexible wires 10% and 105 preferably eX- tenddownwardly through 'the base wall 87, through thecollar passageway 5l, and are received in flexible armored cable 105; said tlertihle 'armored cable i06 preferably leading 'io any/suitableelectricalsupply source.

"he flange 88 of theA base 85 is also provirY ,p with means to Agrasp the saine and facilitate the rotation of the unit 28 to permit its attachment ror Idetachment with re spect Ito the lamp housing, and this means for so grasping- ,the unit 28 preferably coin- -prises three radially extending pinsv 110, con-- nected at 'their ends Lin the flange 88 and extending radially thereof and at their Apuoximate ends being connected in a connectin g` hub l111 axially disposed in the @passageway 541. The hub 111 "is a disc of aluminium, and is provided with a 'central opening 111, through which 'the armored cable '106 extends, to definitely locate this armored cable and prevent the breaking of the wires at the lamp base inthe case of a sudden pull upon the cable. As the hub 111 is spaced from the interior surface of he flange 88 the intermediate A1 3orti'onfs of the `pins are exposed 'so that a 'person reaching upwardly through the Vpassageway 54 ofthe collar 50 may readily grasp the saure withfhis fingers. to rotate "tlieunit 28 for the purpose or effecting attachment or llO base 85 to facilitate its removal or attach-v ment, or to perform a rotation of the entire casing with respect to its bracket, for changing a signal. lt is to be noted that the pins 1l() are spaced a considerable distance below the top wall 87, to permit the operator to insert the tips of his lingers between the pins and the wall 27, to obtain an efficient grasp to prevent the attachment or detachment of the lamp supporting unit. F rom the foregoing description of this invention it will be apparent that a novel type of marker lamp has been provided, in connection with railway signalling as set forth in our co-pending application above referred to. The flexible wires and armored cable entering through the bottom passageway of the lamp casing and the collar 50 are positioned so that they connect to the lamp' bulb and base of the lamp bulb protected from accumulations of snow, ice, or other foreign material, and the opening in the casing permits the facile attachment and detachment of unit construction 28 with respect to the easing 25. The entrance of the unit 28 to the casing is effected through the bottom of the casing and through the.

aassageway 54 of the collar 50; the vertical passageways 100 being aligning with the inwardly projecting ends of the pins 95, and the base 85 moved upwardly by sliding the base with the passageways 100 along the pins 95 until the base 85 is positioned above` t-he pins 95. By slight rotation of the base 85 the bayonet slots may be positioned to engage over the inwardly projecting ends of the pins 95 to secure the attachment of the base 85 and the unit 28 in the casing, in the relation illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. To effect such attachment or detachment of the casing the spider carried by the base is of course important, and the entire casing 25 may be rotated by means of this spider, to change the positioning of the casing 25 in the bracket body 66. Thus, a compact, light in weight, and economically constructed and efficient operating marker lamp has been provided, which embodies features particularly well adapted to render the use of an electric m'arlrer lamp practical for use of signalling on train coaches. The facility with which the bulb may be renewed and repairs made is important, since with the oil burning type of lamp the entire removal of the lamp is necessitated, whereas with the improved type of electrically operated marlrer lamp A, it is only necessary to detach the lamp carrying unit 28.

Various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of this invention or the scope of the'claims.

7e claim: l. ln a signal ofthe class described a casing providing a compartment therein opening through a passageway downwardlyV y in said casing, lenses laterallv supported by the casing, pins fixed with the casing eX- tending radially into said passageway, a sub- 7 etantially circular base including vertical passageways along the marginal portions thereof by means of which the base may be extended into the passageway of the casing and upwardly past said pins, said base at the lower' edge thereof having upwardly eX- tending bayonet slots for detachably' receiving said pins upon rotational movement of the base in the passageway of said casing, and a lamp supported upwardly by said base in the compartment of the casing. Y

2. n a signal of the class described a' casing providing a compartmentV therein opening through a passageway downwardly in said casing, lenses laterally supported by the casing, pins fixed with the casing eX- tending radially into said passageway, a substantially circular base including vertical passageways along the marginal portions thereof by means of which the base. may be extended into the passageway of the casing and upwardly past said pins, said base at the lower edge thereof having upwardly extending bayonet slots for detachably receiving said pins upon rotational movementof the base in the passageway of said easing,y a lamp supported upwardly by said base in the con'ipartment of the casing, and a hand engaging spider carried by the base in downwardly facing relation to the passageway of said casing whereby an operator may reach upwardly through said passageway thru the bottom of the casing to engage said spider.

3. In a signal lamp the combination of a casing including side walls having openings therein' and lenses supported in said openings, said casing having a compartment opening through a passageway at the bottom of the casing, pins radially extending 55 into the passageway below the lens supporting openings yof said casing, a base including a top wall and an annular attaching flange depending from the top wall, said top wall and annular attaching flange having vertical ways therealong so that the base may be inserted into the passageway from the bottom of the casing and slipped upwardly past said pins with the pins projecting through the ways, said attaching flange having bayonet slots upwardly from the lower edge thereof between said ways for detachably receiving the projecting pins upon lowered Vmovement of t-he base within said casing for stably mounting the base in said 130 EFI ^ top casing, and a lamp unit vsupported by the top wall of the base within the Ycompartmentof said casing'.

4t. 'ln a signal lamp the combination of a casing including side walls having openings therein and lenses supported in said openings, said casing` havinga compartment opening through al passageway at the bottom of the casing, pins radially extending into the passageway below the lens supporting openings of said casing, a base including a top wall and an annular attaching flange depending from the top wall, said wall and annular attaching liange having` vertical wavs therealong so tha the base may be inserted into the passageway from the bottom of the casing and slipped upwardly past said pins with the pins projecting into the ways, said attaching flange aving bayonet slots upwardly from the low-er edge thereof between said ways for detachably'receiving the projecting pins upon lowered movement of the base within said casing for stably mounting the base in said casing, lamp unit supported by ythe top wall of the base within the connaartment of said casing, and rradially extending Asins carried by the attaching 'lla-nge of said casing below the top wall of the base extending into the passageway whereby an operator may reach upwardly through the passageway of the casing and engage said last mentioned pins to effect attachment and detachment of the base with respect to the casing. Y A

As anarticle of manufacture a lamp supporting' unitv forsignal lamps comprising a base including a supporting wall having an annular depending attaching flange with bayonet slots upwardly extending from the lower edge thereof, lamp means supported by the supporting wall of said-base at the opposite side thereof from said attaching' flange, and a hand engaging spider supported by said attaching flange in a plane in a spaced relation below said lamp supporting wall.

As an article of manufacture a lamp supporting` unit for signal lamps comprising a base including a supporting top wall having an annular depending attaching flange with bayonet slots upwardly' extending from the lower edge thereof, lamp means supported by the top wall of said base at the opposite side thereof from said attaching flange, said attaching flange and wall having ways vertically'therealong between said bayonet slots.

7. As an article of manufacture a lamp supporting unit for signal lanterns comprising a metal base including a supporting wall having a depending attaching flange with bayonet, slots extending upwardly from the lower edge of said attaching flange,`a socket membercarried upwardly by said supportingfwall, ya lamp detachably connected in said socket member, 'said attaching flange having vertical 'ways therealong between said bayonet slot-s, and a hand engaging spider carried by the lattaching flange below said supporting walland at the opposite side vthereof vfrom said socket.

S. 'ln a lamp construction of the class described a casing providing a compartment 'n opening through a passageway ardlyA in said casing, lenses laterally supported by the casing, pins carried by the casing extending radially into said passageway, a base including bayonet slots for detachably receiving the pins which extend into said passageway, said base including a top wall, a lamp supported on the top ivall, and linger grasping pins carried by the base yin spaced relation below the top wall thereof, the space between the last mentioned lpins and the top wall being sufiicient to permit lthe insertion of a persons i" "'er's in order to facilitate attachment or detachmentr of the base with respect to the casing. in Va signal lamp the combination of a casingproviding a compartment therein and a passageway 'opening downwardly through the casing,jlenses supported by the casing, a base detachably carried by said casing in the passageway thereof, a lamp bulb upon the upper portion of said base, an electrical f conducting cable leading upwardly from below the casing through the passageway thereofand through the base to said lamp bulb, andlinger grasping means carried by "he lower 4part vof the 'base which a person cangrasp by inserting a hand upwardly into the passageway of said base, said linger grasping means including a central supporting disc having an aperture through which said` cable loosely extends.

10. As an article of manufacture a lamp supporting unit forsignal lanterns comprising a base including a supporting wall having a depending attaching flange, a lamp detach'ably connected above said supporting wall, andra hand spider carried below the supporting wall by said attaching flange including substantially radially extending pins Connected with a central disc shaped hub having` a central aperture therethrough.

1l. In a signal lamp of the class described a casing having a compartment therein and an opening in the lower end thereof to said compartment, said casing having lateral lenses thereon, pins supported rigidly with the casing extending in projecting relaticn into the lower end opening of the casing, a base including a top wall and a depending flange, lamp means supported on the top wall, said base having passageways substantially vertically therealong extending frointhe lovler edge of the flange thereof .eup-

waraiy um the rop ein thereof Se that io'or the bese may be vinserted in the lower end opening of the Casing to be received entirely vuiiliiii the easing', the pins of the casing opening being received in seid slots tol permit 'the base io be elevated above said pins, said iienge of the base inwardly of the lower edge thereof having recesses between the slos of the base whereby to receive Jolie projecting pms of said easing; upon slight rotation of the base when disposed in the casing 10 above said pins, wherebyto support the base entirely within the opening of said casing.

WILLIAM B. BARRY, JR. EDWARD G. MYERS. 

